4 Pairs Of White Sneakers To Suit Any Style

There are only a few, select items that we would say are closet mainstays. Asides from the obvious like a good leather jacket and a wear-with-anything pair of jeans, another one of these are white sneakers. Obscenely versatile, a good pair of white sneakers will see you through day-to-night and can be relied upon all year round. But, with new designers and brands bringing out a brand new pair of sparkling white kicks almost every week, we often find ourselves asking, how do you decide which white sneakers are the right sneakers?

Sure, you have your classics like Nike, Converse or Vans, but then you have designers who have pushed the boundaries of the white sneaker, taking the ubiquitous design to new heights. Just think Saint Laurent and Golden Goose’s distressed pairs or Common Projects’ and Veja’s minimalist offerings.

And as far as which ones you should buy, well, the choice is a tough one. Which is why we suggest finding a white sneaker that matches your own, everyday style. Be it sporty, retro or Japanese-chic, we’ve picked out four of our favourites below.

American Retro x Nike Cortez

If you like your sneakers with a historical punch to them, you’ll do no better than Nike’s Cortez sneaker. This classic basketball shoe from the 70s is arguably the most famous purveyor of OG white sneakers – made famous by Farrah Fawcett and later, Forest Gump in the 90s, and remains just as in-demand today. Coveted for their comfortable, durable design and simple shape, they feature a signature round toe and an extended Swoosh logo. Complete the look with a vintage white T-shirt and Levis denim.

Japanese casual x Nike Blazer

The Japanese have a knack for making everything minimal and understated look effortless chic. The purveyors of clean lines and simple shapes, this look proves that sometimes the smartest wardrobe decisions are the simplest, and this couldn’t be more true than when it comes to footwear. Just take the Nike Blazer. Light and flexible, this classic basketball shoe from the 70s comes in a range of fabrics, from suede to canvas and leather and keeps to a clean silhouette with minimal branding and detailing. Wear them looking box-fresh, though they will also look just as good when they’ve had a bit of wear, too.

Japanese Fresh x Stan Smith

Japanese style is most often cited for its unisex appeal, but its street-stylers are also known for mixing in feminine accents to menswear-style basics. For example, adding an oversized sweatshirt to an ankle-grazing skirt and pairing florals with sweatpants - we think of it as the yin to the yang of outfit pairings. And what better way to temper this individualistic style than with a wear-with-everything pair of white sneakers, and none are more classic than Adidas’ Stan Smith. Satisfyingly minimal, but still retaining a sporty edge, they’ll work well with absolutely anything.

Korean Style

Korean style is known for its eclectic, streetwear influences and there’s no better way to show this off than with your kicks. Proving that good white sneakers don’t all have to be plain, if high fashion is your bag, look to a dad sneaker, investing in an OG pair like the Triple S from Balenciaga. You won’t regret it.